Ireland stormed ever closer to a NatWest 6 Nations title showdown with England by dismissing Wales 37-27 in Dublin.

Visiting scrum-half Gareth Davies had vowed Wales would chase a bonus-point win of their own in Ireland in the build-up - but Ireland made a mockery of that prediction with a consummate, if nerve-jangling - triumph.

Peerless scrum-half Conor Murray's sterling service greased the gears on Ireland's smooth operation, with Joe Schmidt's men even shrugging off Johnny Sexton unusually missing 10 points with the boot.

Despite dominating for large swathes, Ireland only ended up winning the day thanks to Murray's late penalty goal and a last-gasp intercept score for Stockdale.

Head coach Schmidt's Ireland men face England at Twickenham on March 17 in a tournament-closing encounter. On this evidence, Irish hopes will warm towards a potential St Patrick's Day victory to treasure.

Eddie Jones' England will doubtless prove a different proposition, but all that now stands between Ireland and that final-weekend showdown is the Scotland clash in Dublin on March 10.

Half-back Davies, Aaron Shingler and Steff Evans grabbed tries for Wales, but the visitors were outmuscled and outclassed, eventually.